THE start of the main phase of works to build the new £11.8m Harwell link road has been welcomed by a leading business group.

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said the scheme would be a ‘major boost’ to thousands of people travelling to work every day.

The road, which will run from the B4493 to the A417, has been designed to relieve Harwell Village of through-traffic.

LEP chief Nigel Tipple said: “More than 5,000 people work within the Harwell site every day so this is project is of great importance, as it will deliver an array of benefits to those currently living and working in the area.

“In future, we expect more businesses to move to this prime location, boosting local employment opportunities, and with new housing developments planned for the area, improvements to the road networks now are imperative.

“Not only will this ease the flow of traffic in and out of the area, but it will also help to relieve daily through-traffic.”

Preparation work started last year, with the 12-month project expected to finish in November.

It is being built Oxfordshire County Council on behalf of OxLEP, which is made up of businesses, councils and universities.